Brussels, 04/12/2002 (Agence Europe) - According to date released by Eurostat on Wednesday growth in the Euro-zone stabilised at a level of 0.3% in the third quarter of 2002, equivalent to that of the second quarter. This estimate for the second quarter was initially 0.4% and has therefore been revised downwards. Forecasts do not bode well. According to European Commission forecasts published on Wednesday, growth will fluctuate between 0.2% - 0.5% in the fourth quarter and is in danger of falling into the -0.2% + 0.2 band in the first quarter of 2003. The Euro-zone could then find itself in a contradictory phased at the beginning of the year. Nevertheless spokesperson at the institution said that this decrease in growth was compatible with the basic scenario traced by the European Commission in the autumn, which were published mid-November. This envisaged a gradual upturn in 2003 because the fundamentals of the European economy remain sound. The Commission has, nevertheless revised its forecasts downwards for growth in the Euro-zone from 0.8% in 2002 to 1.8% in 2003. It is counting on a "bounce back" in 2004 of 2.7%. In this context a boost from the European Central Bank on Thursday for the European economy could be expected with a welcome cut in interest rates.